Romanian gymnast Ana Bărbosu shared her condolences with Jordan Chiles on Friday as she accepted her Olympic bronze medal for the floor exercise during a medal ceremony in Bucharest, Romania, after a controversy saw Chiles stripped of the medal she was originally awarded.

Bărbosu expressed her sympathy for Chile and her Romanian teammate Sabrina Voinea, acknowledging their difficult situation and overwhelming emotions, stressing that neither she nor the other athletes did anything wrong during the competition.

“I have to think of Sabrina and Jordan at the moment,” said Bărbosu. “It’s a difficult situation for us, with so many uncertainties and overwhelming emotions. I hope everyone understands that we did nothing wrong at the Olympic Games. And that the Olympic spirit is more important than any misunderstanding between the authorities… I want to believe that the day will come when all three of us get a bronze medal.”

This medal redistribution came after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that the investigation that had increased Chiles’ score and allowed her to win the bronze medal had been submitted too late and should not have been accepted. As a result, Chiles’ score was lowered, dropping her to fifth place and Bărbosu to third place. The decision became final when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved the redistribution, leading to the ceremony where Bărbosu was awarded the bronze medal.

Chiles had originally been awarded the bronze medal after her coach Cecile Landi successfully challenged her original score in the floor exercise final in Paris. This challenge slightly increased Chile’s difficulty score, putting her ahead of the Romanian gymnasts. However, the Romanian Olympic Committee later challenged this challenge and the CAS upheld its appeal.

After the case was reversed, Chiles shared her disappointment on social media, calling the decision unfair and expressing the emotional impact it had on her.

“I am at a loss for words. This decision feels unfair and is a huge blow, not only for me but for everyone who has supported my journey,” said Chiles. “To make it even more heartbreaking, the unsolicited racially motivated attacks on social media are wrong and extremely hurtful. I have put my heart and soul into this sport and am so proud to represent my culture and my country.”

“I am now facing one of the most difficult moments of my career,” she added. “Believe me, I have been through many. I will approach this challenge like others have – and do everything I can to ensure justice is done. I believe that at the end of this journey, the people in control will do the right thing.”